Under the new measures to combat brucellosis which I introduced from 23 February 1998 arrangements are being made to speed up the completion of blood tests and the notification of results to the herdowner. In this regard and with the co-operation of all concerned it is envisaged that test results will be available in seven to nine days following the taking of the sample. As heretofore, and for the immediate future blood samples will be tested at the brucellosis laboratory in Cork and to a limited extent at the regional laboratory in Sligo. Taking account of the additional workload on the laboratories and particularly in Cork where the bulk of the blood tests will be carried out my Department has sought additional resouces for the Cork laboratory. The other regional veterinary laboratories of my Department are not involved in brucellosis blood testing.
As in the past, the farmer will pay for the cost of the pre-movement test and my Department will carry the laboratory costs. The rate paid by farmers to veterinary practitioners in respect of taking blood samples is a matter for negotiation between them and I have no function in this regard. However, in recognition of the extra costs involved to the farmer by pre-movement and other required blood testing in 1998 I will seek Oireachtas approval to reduce the current rates of disease levies by the equivalent of £2 million per year to partially offset these additional costs. On such approval, these levies will be reduced from £2.50 to £2 a head for cattle slaughtered or exported and from 0.5p to 0.4p per gallon on milk deliveries.
